Harry Baumes returned to the USDA in April 2006 serving as Associate Director of the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. He served as the Acting Director of the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) from January to November 2010. In December, he was appointed Director by the Chief Economist Director of the Office. In addition to administrative responsibilities, Dr. Baumes’ activities focus on renewable energy policy and evaluation - particularly biofuels and feedstocks. Dr. Baumes has worked on the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and coordinated USDA interaction and collaboration with the EPA on the proposed and final rule for implementing the RFS provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. He was responsible for the overall agenda and for the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development program for the ministerial level of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. The conference had representation from over 120 countries and 100 minister level officials, with more than 5000 in attendance (March 2008).

Prior to returning to the USDA in April 2006 as Associate Director of the OEPNU, Dr. Baumes was Managing Director of Agricultural Services for Global Insight (G.I.). There he had management responsibilities for the Agricultural Group, including domestic and international agriculture sector forecasting and consulting services. While at G.I., Dr. Baumes led three proprietary studies that looked at biofuels and implications for U.S. agriculture. Baumes has more than 30 years of professional experience conducting and/or managing domestic and international agriculture sector studies.

Baumes holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University (1974), a Master of Science degree (1976), and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree (1978) in agricultural economics from Purdue University. Baumes’ graduate studies concentrated on quantitative methods.